With resources thinly spread and new recruits needed, this transfer window was always going to be a compromise for West Ham: The striker search would occupy most of the headlines – the midfielder options have been many and still the Hammers have no recruit nailed down in that department either.
Behind the scenes, there are mitigating facts for the late movement in the window which is just getting going barely ten days before the window closes. The installation of new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay has probably meant that little was accomplished in the first two weeks.
However, momentum is gathering. Brian Brobbey looks an odds-on favourite if the Hammers don’t get pipped at the post, whilst in midfield a couple of young up-and-coming future starlets are in discussion.
What about the defence? West Ham go into Sunday’s Aston Villa Premier League fixture with just one fit front-line centre back. Konstantinos Mavropanos is suspended and Jean Clair Todibo injured. Max Kilman, the only fit and functioning centre-back has been an ever-present in the starting line up this season and worries must grow about cumulative fatigue or injury risk for West Ham’s £40 million man: The club are already having to call up Kaelan Casey or move midfielder Edson Alvarez into a makeshift back line.
Fourth centre back Nayef Aguerd is away on a season long loan and moving mountains at Real Sociedad. How bad does that decision by Lopetegui to send him out on the last day of the summer window look in hindsight.
In Aguerd’s absence, West Ham are reportedly linked at this late stage in the window (Jack Rosser The Sun, on X) with Brighton’s 30 year-old Adam Webster, a Brighton defender who was a Potter favourite. Despite a poor injury record, Webster is seen as good cover and a realistic third choice option as Brighton are said to be ‘sensible’ about the player’s price.
Whilst there are fitness doubts after recent injuries, in the absence of a better bet, at least having cover for Potter’s preferred three-at-the-back set up would be prudent. Don’t forget the added bonus that Webster would be familiar with the system Potter is seeking to implement. I’m minded of the excellent Craig Dawson who blossomed late in his career – if Webster can be half as good he’ll be a big asset to West Ham.
West Ham have been reportedly offered more exotic defensive options such as Barcelona defender Eric Garcia (footballfancast.com) but at over £20 million the prices being discussed are well out of the Hammers’ reach this window. More ‘make do and mend’ may be the order of the day – and if Webster is ‘mended’ he may have to ‘do’.
